A1 Team Great Britain will be aiming to make an instant impact in Chengdu, China at the weekend as it competes in its first races of the 2008/09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. After missing the first two races at Zandvoort, the team is determined for a strong points haul in China to get its championship campaign underway.
As previously announced, Danny Watts will lead the charge for Great Britain in China. He brings to the team a wealth of racing experience and the benefit of having experience in the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari car. The 28-year-old was called up by A1GP to test the new car for two days over the summer months as part of its development process. The team hopes this experience will help towards countering the fact that GBR has not been able to test its new car yet due to delays in the build schedule, which has put it somewhat on the back foot compared to the teams that have tested at the official test days and raced in the season opener at Zandvoort. James Winslow will also attend the event as GBR’s reserve driver, although Danny is still eligible to take part in the rookie practice sessions and so will drive in all the sessions available to him to maximise his track time.
A1GP Chengdu, China, is a brand new race for season four and will take place at the Chengdu International Circuit, a 3.367km clockwise track featuring 13 turns. Chengdu City is the capital of the Sichuan province in the South West of China. The circuit has previously played host to rounds of the Asian Touring Car Championship and Formula V6 Asia and is a wide track with a long front straight, promising plenty of overtaking opportunities for the drivers at the wheel of the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari cars.
Danny Watts: “We will be playing catch up this weekend after missing out on Zandvoort and official test sessions. Compared to last year the whole package is a big step up in terms of aerodynamics, braking, power and balance – it’s a proper thoroughbred racing car. It has much better downforce and the new carbon brakes are hugely impressive, you can brake so late now. I haven’t driven at Chengdu before but I have done as much homework as I can and as soon as I get there I’ll be doing track walks with the engineer and talking to James Winslow, who has raced there before. The hard work is going to start in practice and we will need to get on top of the new car quickly and find a good set-up. Everyone in the team is quality and I’m sure we will get it dialled in quickly.”
Katie Clements, Team Principal: “It is crucial for us to get some good points on the board this weekend. I am sure with Danny and the team’s experience and talent we will be able to achieve that aim. Chengdu is a new challenge for everyone but I am sure that we will be able to get up to speed quickly, despite missing out on Zandvoort. I am delighted to finally be back in action and I look forward to an exciting weekend.”
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